Lake Arthur plans project to honor veterans, active duty service members
Published 11:03 am Sunday, October 15, 2023
- Signs saluting active, retired and deceased military service members line Arthur Arthur in downtown Lake Arthur during the town’s Freedom Fest celebration in July. A similar display honoring those service members is being planned for Veterans Day in November. (Special to the American Press)
A new project in downtown Lake Arthur aims to ensure that those who served or continue to serve in the military are honored and not forgotten as Veterans Day approaches.
More than 50 signs recognizing active, retired and deceased military service members for their service to the country will line Arthur Avenue for Veterans Day as part of the “Lake Arthur Salute to Our Military: Veterans on the Boulevard.”
“We already have a veterans salute during our Freedom Fest in July, but wanted to do something for our veterans for Veterans Day in November,” organizer Chrystal Breaux said.
A similar display is also held annually to salute graduating seniors at Lake Arthur High School.
“One of our council members, Debbie Sonnier asked if we could do something like that for the military and I thought it was a great idea,” Breaux said. “Since she does so much for Freedom Fest I said, let me handle it.”
Breaux designed the 24 x 18 yard signs and started advertising on social media.
“People just started buying them,” she said. “They can buy them for their loved ones, for a local veteran or anyone.”
Persons interested in purchasing a sign for $25 can contact Breaux at 337-523-5915 or email dreamworkscollision@yahoo.com by Friday, Oct. 27. Payment can be made via Venmo, Cash App or PayPal.
The signs will be on display Nov. 8-18. After Nov. 18, all signs will be picked up and stored and will be displayed annually during Freedom Fest, Veterans Day and other special occasions.
“The veterans can be from anywhere,” Breaux said. “It’s not limited to just Lake Arthur.”
The signs will feature a photo of the military person along with their name, military branch and rank of service.
Breaux said the response to the signs has been overwhelming.
“We have had such a good response and so many people really like it,” she said. “We hope to continue to do it in the future”
She said a lot of local residents love to travel down Arthur Avenue to view the signs.
“You can tell the day we put them out, you see the traffic,” she said.
Many people get emotional seeing the signs while others take pictures with the signs, she said.
